Key controlled printing machine



May 29, 1951 L.. F. MITCHELL.

KEY CONTROLLED PRINTING MACHINE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 30, 1947 M125 eEo. D. poLK [960 BEACON DQ.

SHAKEQ HEIGHTS CLEVELAND CHIC May 29, 1951 Filed April 30, 1947A L. F. MITCHELL KEY CONTROLLED PRINTING MACHINE 2 sheets-snm 2 Patented May 29, 1951 UNETED STATES TENT FFCE KEY CONTRLLED PRINTING MACHINE Application April 30, 1947, Serial No. 745,051

This invention relates to printing apparatus of the character utilized in department stores and the like for printing the customers name, address and other data on sales slips at least in part, from individual tokens carried by each cus tomer.

Printing apparatus of the kind to which this invention pertains have gained wide acceptance in department stores and the like, and while such devices have been helpful in simplifying customer identification and in producing properly printed identification data on the sales slips, such Asales slip printing apparatus have in the past been coniined primarily to the printing of data pertaining only to the customer, and as a result of this, it has been necessary for the clerk to write other identiication and data on each sales slip, as for example, the identification of the clerk that has made the sale. In vieW of the foregoing, it is an important object of the present invention to so arrange a printing apparatus of the aforesaid character that identiiication data, such as a date and a number pertaining to the clerk or sales person, may be printed at the same time that the customer identication data are printed. A further and related object is to enable such identification data pertaining to the sales person to be carried upon a removable member or key for ready insertion into the printing apparatus, and another object is to render the pron duction of a printed impression dependent upon the presence of such clerk identification data in proper position in the machine.

Other and further objects of the present invention will be apparent from the following description and claims and are illustrated in the acompanying drawings which, by way of illustration, show a kpreferred embodiment and the principles thereof and what I now consider to be the best mode in. which I have contempleted applying those principles. the invention embodying the same or equivalent principles may be used and structural changes may be made as desired by those skilled in the art without departing from the present invention and the purview of the appended claims.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view., taken partially in section, and illustrating a sales slip printing apparatus embodying the features of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a plan view taken substantially along the line 2- 2 of .Figi and illustrating the relationship of the various printing elements in the machine;

Other embodiments of 4 Claims. (c1. 10i-269) Fig. 3 is a fragmental side elevational view similar to Fig. 1 and showing the apparatus in the relationship assumed when a proper clerk identification means is not in position in the machine;

Fig. 4 is a View similar to Fig. 3 and illustrating the relationship of the parts when the proper ,clerk identication means has been put in position;

Fig. 5 is an end view of the supporting plate upon which the printing elements are mounted, the View being taken from the line 5-5 of Fig. 3;

Figs. 6 and 6A are plan and side elevational views, respectively, of a clerk identiiication means in the form of a key adapted for use in the printing apparatus;

Fig. '7 is a plan view of a settable printing element that is included in the apparatus for indicating the kind of transaction to which a particular sales slip pertains;

Fig. 8 is an end view of the rear end of the supporting plate, as Viewed from the right in Fig. l; and

Fig. 9 is a View of the supporting plate as viewed from the line 9 9 in Fig. 2.

For purposes of disclosure the invention has been herein illustrated as embodied in a sales slip printing apparatus I0 having a base l I at the rear end of which an upstanding column I2 is afforded upon which a forwardly extended mounting plate I3 is rigidly secured. The space vbetween the base II and the mounting plate I3 and forwardly of the column I2 aiiords a throat lli within which the main body of a sales book B may .be positioned so that the sales book B rests on the base Il, and in this relationship, the iirst group of sales slips, including the required number of copies and the requisite carbon sheets or spot carbon areas, may be extended upwardly so 'as to extend across the upper face of the mounting plate i3, and printing means are associated with the mounting plate I3 for making a printed impression on such` sales slips S.

The printing apparatus is arranged to print the customer identification from a printing device in the form of a token T which as herein shown is generally rectangular in character and bears embossed type characters N in a direct reading relationship. The token T is located in proper relation on the upper face of the mounting plate I3 by guides i6 and identification pins l?, and at one edge. the mounting plate I3 has a notch or recess l3A so as to facilitate mounting and dismounting of the printing device or token T.

When the token vT is thus in position on the mounting plate I3, the sales slip S is put in position across the top of the token T, and impression means may then be rendered eifective to produce a printed impression from the token T and from such other printing means as may be mounted on the plate I3. Such impression means as herein illustrated are mounted and housed within a shiftable casing or head 20 that is pivoted at 2l along its rear edge on the plate I3 at a point substantially opposite the upper end of the column I2. The housing or head 20 may thus be moved in a clockwise direction from the position shown in Fig. 1 to an out-of-the-Way position so that mounting of the token T and location of the sales slip S across the upper face of the token T may be readily and easily accomplished,

Such movement of the head 26 is accomplished by means of a forwardly projecting handle 22 that is pivoted on a horizontal axis 23 at the top of the head 20, and a vertically reciprocable plunger 24 mounted on the head 2i! and springurged to the position shown in Fig. 1, has a pin and slot connection 25 with the lever 22 so that this lever normally assumes the relationship shown in Fig. l with respect to the head 20. When the head 2i! has been moved to the active or lowered position of Fig. 1, the forward or lefthand end of the handle 22 may be depressed with relation to the head 2U so as to cause an operative printing stroke of a platen roller 28 that is housed within the head 25. In such operative printing stroke, the platen roller 20 moves forwardly along a path determined by horizontal guide slots 23 formed in guide plates 30 housed within the head 2E] in a conventional manner. The movement of the platen roller along the guide slots 29 is caused by actuating arms 3| housed within the head 25 and operatively associated with the plunger 25 in a conventional manner, Within the head 29, means are afforded for supporting an inked ribbon IR that extends across the open lower face of the head 20 so that in its operative printing stroke, the platen roller 28 presses the ribbon IR downwardly against the v upper face of the sales slip S to thereby make a printed impression from the direct reading type N that are disposed beneath the sales slip.

In accordance with the present invention, the sales slip printing apparatus is so arranged that other identification data in addition to the name and address of the customer may be printed simultaneously in the forward printing stroke of the platen roller 28. Thus, as will be evident in Figs. 2 and 9 of the drawings, a replaceable date printing type element 35 and a replaceable department identication type element 35 are disposed in mounting slots 35S and 35S formed along one edge of the mounting plate I3. In addition, a settable printing member 38 for indicating the kind of the transaction involved is mounted rotatably on a supporting shaft 39 in a suitable bearing in the mounting plate I3. The shaft 39 is disposed so as to extend in a front to rear direction so that an adjusting head 13D xed on the rear end of the shaft 39 is disposed at the rear end of the mounting plate I3. The head 4I) has a plurality of flat surfaces 'IBL formed about the peripheral edge thereof and these surfaces carry legends which enable the clerk to readily determine which one of several printing faces 38F of the printing device 38 is disposed in effective printing position. A spring retaining device 42 xed on the rear face of the column I2 acts on the lowermost one of the fiat surfaces lIIlL to hold CII the settable printing device 36 in any desired adjusted position. The printing faces SSF may identify the transactions in any desired way, such for example as Charge, Cash, C.O.D., or Will call transactions.

In addition to the printing of identification data as above set forth, it is also important that each sales slip have a proper identication of the sales person or clerk who has handled the transaction and for this purpose, a clerk-identification key K is provided and means are alforded which cooperate with such key K to render the printing apparatus operative when such a key is in position in the apparatus and to render the apparatus inoperative when such a key is not in position. Thus, as will be evident particularly in Figs. 2, 5 and 6, the key K has a head 5I) from which a longitudinal stem 5I projects, and at its other end the stern 5I has a lateral projection 52 upon which a relatively flat type element 53 is secured so as to extend longitudinally in a direction parallel to the axis of the stem 5I. The upper face of the supporting plate I3 has a relatively wide groove 53S formed therein along which the type element 53 may be moved rearwardly with a sliding action into the position shown in Fig. 2, and beneath the groove 53S a longitudinal slot 52S is provided which opens downwardly into a bore that forms a key slot 5 IS for the stem 5I of the key K. Thus, the stem 5| of the key K may be inserted into the key slot 5IS and the lateral projection 52 will ride in the slot 52S while the type element 53 will ride in the groove 53S, and the extent of inward movement may be determined of course by the extent of the slot or groove 53S or by the engagement of a flange EGF on the stem with the forward edge of the mounting plate I3.

The location of the key K in the position shown in Figs. 1 and 2 is effective in accordance with the present invention to control the printing action of the sales slip printing apparatus, and the key K therefore has a control pin 55 extended laterally therefrom for operative engagement with control means 56 that are mounted in the mounting plate I3. The control means 56 is mounted in a recess 57 formed in the upper face of the mounting plate I3 at the forward end thereof and just to the right of the key slot 5I S as viewed in Fig. 5, it being noted in Figs. 2 and 5 that the recess 51 opens into the slots 5IS, 52S and 53S throughout a portion of the length of these slots. The control apparatus comprises a shiftable lever 6l! mounted in the recess 51' on a vertical pivot screw 5I so that the body of the lever 50 is in substantially the same horizontal plane as .the control pin 55. A torsion spring 62, wound about the pivot screw BI and anchored at its opposite ends on a fixed pin 54 and a pin 65 on the righthand end of the lever 60, as viewed in Fig. 5, serves to urge the lever 60 in a counterclockwise direction, Fig. 2, to the dotted line position of Fig. 2. When the lever 8E) is in the dotted line position of Fig. 2 and the head 20 is in the aforementioned out-of-the-way position, the pin is disposed immediately below the lower edge of the forward wall 28W of the housing 2U, and as will be evident in Figs. 1, 3 and 4, the pin 55 extends upwardly for a substantial distance above the upper face of the mounting plate I3. Thus, when the pin 65 is in the dotted line position of Fig. 2, this pin serves as a blocking abutment to prevent completion of the downward movement of the head 2U from the out-of-the-way position and the head 20 is thereby held in the position shown infiiig r3""o`f thedifawings. Thus, the operation of the lever .2-2 `and `the 1platen roller 28 under such circumstances will beineffective to produce a .printed impression on the sales slip. When, howeve'ifthe key Kis inserted'iiito position in the mounting plate I3, the pin 55 offthe Ak'ey engages'the Ilefthand end 60E, Fig. 5, of the lever Bill-"so 'that continued movement of the key `K 'to its -fully inserted -position of Fig. 2 serves to shift the lever'' against the 'force of its 'spring I62 Tand into the position shown'in'full lines inlFifg.. 2. Tlhis yserves to move `.the block 'pin 65to its' in- -feifectiv'e position Yof Fig. 4-so as to thereby venable the downward movement ofthe head 20 to be continued to such a point that operation of the platen roller 28 is effective toproduce the desired printed impression. Means are afforded for holding the key K in position against the action of the spring 62, and as herein shown, such means comprise a spring actuated .locking plunger 68 mounted in the mounting plate I3 and arranged to engage a notch 5IN formed-in the lower surface of the stem 5I of the key. y Thus, the operation of the printing apparatus through an effective printing stroke or operation is dependent upon the presence of a clerk identifying key K in proper position in the apparatus, and such a key is readily removable and insertable so that the machine may be used by a number of differ- *ent clerks or sales persons.

From the foregoing, it willbe evident that the present invention affords an improved sales slip printing apparatus whereby the production of a complete sales record in each printing operation is assured. Moreover, this printing apparatus may be readily used by a number of different sales persons or clerks who may each have an individual identification key which not only carries type elements for printing a clerk identification on the sales slip, but also embodies means for controlling operation of the printing apparatus to render such apparatus effective in response to the presence of such identication key in the machine.

Thus, while I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiment of my invention, it is to be understood that this is capable of Variation and modification and I therefore do not wish to be limited to the precise details set forth, but

desire to avail myself of such changes and alteri ations as fall within the purview of the following claims.

I claim:

l. In a sales slip printing apparatus, a base having a mounting plate across which a sales slip may be disposed for performance of a printing operation, means on said plate for removably receiving and `positioning a customers token constituting a printing device from which a printed impression is to be made onto a sales slip, a printing head shiftably mounted on said base for movement from an out-of-the-way position, which exposes the upper face of said plate, to an operative position over and in an opposed relation to the upper face of said plate, impression means carried by said printing head and effective when said head is in said operative position to make a printed impression from such a token mounted on said plate, actuating means on said head for said impression means, means on said plate for receiving and positioning type means constituting an identification for cooperation with said impression means, control means mounted on said plate and normally effective to i y prevent movement of said head from said outo-'the-way position ito said operative position,

and means on said vcontrollineans actuated as an cons itut'ing .a printing device from "which a printed 'impression is to be made onto `a 'sa-ies 'sl-ip, a printing lhe'ad shiftably mounted Aon said base for movement freir-1an out-off-'the-'way Jp'sition, which exposes the `-upper face of said plate, to an operative position over and in an opposed relation to the upper face of said plate, impression means carried by said printing head and effective when said head is in said operative position to make a printed impression from such a token mounted on said plate, actuating means on said head for said impression means, means on said plate for receiving and positioning type means constituting a clerk identification for cooperation with said impression means, a control lever shiftably mounted on said plate and having an abutment thereon adapted to be disposed in position to engage said head and prevent movement of said head to said operative position, spring means urging said lever to a position wherein said abutment is effective as aforesaid, and means on said control lever actuated as an incident to mounting of a clerk identification means on said plate to shift said lever so as to render said abutment ineffective.

3. In a sales slip printing apparatus, a base having a mounting plate across which a sales slip may be disposed for performance of a printing operation, means on said plate for removably receiving and positioning a customers token constituting a printing device from which a printed impression is to be made onto a sales slip, a printing head shiftably mounted on said base for movement from an out-of-the-way position which exposes the upper face of said plate to an operative position over and in an opposed relation to the upper face of said plate, impression means carried by said printing head and effective when said head is in said operative position to make a printed impression from such a token mounted on said plate, actuating means on said head for said impression means, means on said plate for receiving and positioning type means constituting a clerk identification for cooperation with said impression means, a pivoted stop lever mounted on said plate and normally effective to engage said head and prevent movement of said head from said out-of-the-way position to said operative position, and means on said stop lever actuated as an incident to mounting of a clerk identification means on said plate to render said stop lever ineffective.

4. In a sales slip printing apparatus, a mounting plate across which a sales slip may be disposed for performance of a printing operation, means on said plate for removably receiving and positioning a customers token constituting a printing device from which a printed impression is to be made onto a sales slip, impression means movable toward and away from said plate into and out of a predetermined printing position and' operable when disposed in said printing position to make a printed impression from such a token mounted on said plate, control means shiftably mounted on said plate and effective when disposed in one 7 position to engage said impression means to prevent movement of said impression means into said printing position, means on said plate including a slot therein adjacent to said control means for receiving and positioning in predetermined position type means constituting a clerk identification for cooperation with said impression means, and means on said control means engageable by such a clerk identification means as an incident to mounting of the clerk identication means in said predetermined position on said plate to move said control means out of s aid one position and render said control means ineffective to engage said impression means.

LESTER F. MITCHELL.

8 REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent: I

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,056,765 Ohmer Mar. 18, 1913 `1,091,498 Friedlein Mar. 31, 1914 1,254,825 Martin Jan. 29, 1918 1,539,382 Thomson et al May 28, 1925 1,866,997 Bryce July 12, 1932 2,039,072 Dugdale Apr. 28, 1936 2,342,699 Sand Feb. 29, 1944 

